Trump not entitled to more info regarding the fraud allegations against him, DA’s office argues

The Manhattan district attorney’s office said in a new court filing on Tuesday that former President Donald Trump “has more than sufficient information to prepare his defense” and is not entitled to a written statement with more information on the criminal charges he is facing.

Trump, who last month entered a not guilty plea to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with a 2016 hush money payment in a New York City courtroom, is asking for a bill of particulars that would include information about the prosecution’s theory of the case that isn’t contained in the indictment.

Defense lawyers are requesting more details about the specifics of the accusations made against Trump’s allegedly unlawful behavior. Additionally, they want the other crime that Trump is believed to have assisted by manipulating corporate papers in order to get him charged with felonies. Unless it is done to aid in the commission of another crime, in which case it might be punished as a felony, falsifying business records is a misdemeanor.

Prosecutors said that what they had already filed was adequate.

“The 15-page, 34-count indictment and 13-page statement of facts fully inform defendant of the nature of the charges against him, including by specifying the business records defendant allegedly falsified and by describing the details of his allegedly unlawful scheme,” assistant district attorney Becky Mangold said.

The Manhattan district attorney’s office claims that Trump lied about the purpose of reimbursement payments made to his former lawyer Michael Cohen after Cohen paid Stormy Daniels $130,000 to appear in an adult film during the final weeks of the 2016 presidential campaign in order to silence her about an affair with Trump that she has long denied.

“The People respond that the crimes defendant intended to commit or to aid or conceal may include violations of New York Election Law, New York Tax Law and New York Penal Law; or violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act,” Mangold said.

The provisions of a protective order granted by a judge that restricts Trump’s ability to reveal information discovered during the discovery process, which prosecutors will be discussing with the defense, are anticipated to be discussed during a virtual hearing that he is due to attend next week. Prosecutors promised to give Trump’s team “millions” of pages once they’ve informed him of the gag order.

“The production of these voluminous discovery materials further ensures that defendant is fully informed of the charges against him so he may prepare a defense,” Mangold said.